Demand on health care system increases with COVID-19 surge.

Byline: Anthony Vecchione

As the confirmed cases of COVID-19 increase in the state, demand on the health care system is also intensifying.

Those sobering comments came from Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli at a Wednesday afternoon press conference with Gov. Phil Murphy.

"We predicted a statewide surge during the second week of April and as we broke the predictions down by region. We predicted that critical care capacity, particularly in the north, would be reached in the first week of April if no further critical care beds were opened," said Persichilli.

She said that increasing critical care capacity is the key to managing the surge.

Tuesday night seven hospitals in the northern part of the state reported to the Department of Health that they were on divert status for various reasons some due to overcrowding in emergency rooms and others because of high census.

Two hospitals were supplied with generators that they requested from the DOH. And, the state was able to secure 350 additional ventilators, which were scheduled to be delivered Wednesday.

Persichilli said that due to the activity in the northern part of the state, the DOH is looking at alternative care sites.

The field hospital in the Meadowlands is scheduled to open next week and will be available for lower acuity patients who can be safely transferred.

Dr. Jeff Brenner, the founding physician of the Camden Coalition, and UnitedHealthcare President and Chief Operating Officer - Clinical Redesign Kathleen Stillo who are on loan to the state from UnitedHealthcare will be charged with leading efforts at the alternative care site facilities.

Staffing needs

Persichilli said there are currently about 5,200 volunteers and about 35 percent of them are licensed professionals nurses, respiratory therapists, and some physicians.

There are five nurses from the DOH's survey team sorting through the names, identifying their credentials, working with the Department of Community Affairs for a quick check to make sure that their backgrounds are in order, and they are being sorted by county.

"Our first priority with the 5,200 will be to fulfill the staffing needs of our field hospitals," said Persichilli.

The governor announced at the press conference his signing ofExecutive Order No. 112, authorizing the Division of Consumer Affairs to temporarily reactivate the licenses of recently retired health care professionals and grant temporary licenses...